Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Schools could hold class on Presidents’ Day, Easter Monday under Maryland bill

Closing schools for Presidents’ Day could become optional for Maryland school districts under a bill being considered in the General Assembly.

The same could happen to Easter Monday.

Concerned about Gov. Larry Hogan’s 2016 executive order requiring the state’s 24 school districts to start classes after Labor Day and end by June 15, several state lawmakers want to give local jurisdictions flexibility by removing Presidents’ Day and Easter Monday from the state’s list of mandatory public school holidays.

“These couple of days would be important to the school schedule,” said Del. Pamela G. Beidle (D-Anne Arundel), the chief sponsor of the bill.

More

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

They should also consider MLK day then.

Anonymous said...

I remember when we had long Christmas, Easter,etc. holidays off and then get summer off from Memorial Day and not going back until after Labor Day. Now it seems they close schools once month for "teachers meetings". And a lot of children graduate with maybe a 5th grade education.

Anonymous said...

Maybe they should do away with so many "professional days" whatever they are

Anonymous said...

The professional days are a waste of time. Do away with those and the students would get more education and still begin after Labor Day and finish the school year by May 31st. They would still have decent Christmas breaks and at least a four day Easter break.

Anonymous said...

I think we should get rid of some of the professional days as well as Easter Monday and MLK Day. Presidents Day could also go. Also, why not get rid of all the 1/2 days at the end of the school year. They are simply a waste of time.

Anonymous said...

Careful now, protests with folks wearing "professional day hats" could be on the horizon!!!!

Anonymous said...

Get rid of the professional days. Complete waste of time.

Anonymous said...

Okay, then lets get rid of all the professional days. Why isn't MLK day on this list as well!!!!

Anonymous said...

Why not go to school year round with 3 week breaks evenly spaced throughout the year?

Anonymous said...

Why not get rid of the democrat hold on education in this country and place the power back into the local community?

Anonymous said...

1:02 That would suck for the kids and the parents. School schedules dictate our lives now way too much.

Anonymous said...

Hey GOV HOGAN close the schools on veterans day.

Anonymous said...

Kids now work a lot harder than we did- daughters up until midnight doing homework. They could use more breaks not less.

Anonymous said...

year round school worked well when there were way too many kids and not enough schools. Believe that phenom too place in VA during the 70's/early 80's.

Now there are enough schools, but get this - not enough teachers because of the very high price tag of new schools; the lack of emphasis of obtaining an education in teaching; and the biggest one of all - pay.

That paradigm somewhere somehow needs to change - YESTERDAY!!!!

Anonymous said...

Amen to reducing the number of Teachers holidays.

Anonymous said...

Presidents' Day has a whole lot more meaning than milk day. Get rid of it. Oh that's right we can't we might offend the Blm trash

Smile said...

As a former educator, I agree there are too many professional days. However, the professional days are not " teacher holidays" as one poster called them.

Anonymous said...


Got it that parents find Professional Days burdensome because they have to round up care for the kids.

They were rare when I was in school but the curriculum was in many respects kind of static, and there was less push for performance and change, change, change. The only way to get those efforts underway is to get the staff in one place so everyone gets the same message.

In some way, shape or form your job does something similar when a change is made, or forthcoming. In most case you don't to step away from a group of kids in order to get the new info.

Back in the day, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day and both Lincoln's and Washington's Birthday were celebrated individually.

The Delegates behind this should find something more productive to do.

Anonymous said...

WE want ALL military holidays off Especially Veterans day .

Anonymous said...

The convention day in oc was a free day until they made teachers clock in at their home schools or sign in at the convention. I belive this change was recent too.